The Good Liar: A Novel - Softcover

Searle, Nicholas

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0062442120 ISBN 13: 9780062442123

Publisher: Harper Large Print, 2016

Synopsis

Spinning a page-turning story of literary suspense that begins in the present and unwinds back more than half a century, this unforgettable debut channels the haunting allure of Atonement as its masterfully woven web of lies, secrets, and betrayals unravels to a shocking conclusion.

Veteran con artist Roy spots an obvious easy mark when he meets Betty, a wealthy widow, online. In no time at all, he’s moved into Betty’s lovely cottage and is preparing to accompany her on a romantic trip to Europe. Betty’s grandson disapproves of their blossoming relationship, but Roy is sure this scheme will be a success. He knows what he’s doing.

As this remarkable feat of storytelling weaves together Roy’s and Betty’s futures, it also unwinds their pasts. Dancing across almost a century, decades that encompass unthinkable cruelty, extraordinary resilience, and remarkable kindness, The Good Liar is an epic narrative of sin, salvation, and survival—and for Roy and Betty, there is a reckoning to be made when the endgame of Roy’s crooked plot plays out.

About this title

About the Author:

Nicholas Searle grew up in the southwest of England and studied languages at the University of Bath. He spent more years than he cares to remember in public service before deciding in 2011 to leave and begin writing fiction. The Good Liar is his first novel. Nicholas lives in the north of England.

Review:

“A gut-clenching cat-and-mouse game.... This debut novel is a wellcrafted, complex tale that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers.” (Booklist)

“If you like Patricia Highsmith’s Mr. Ripley books...this is an excellent debut indeed.” (BookPage.com)

“An incredibly dark, taut thriller.... Think of Ruth Rendell morphing into John Le Carré.” (Daily Express (London))

“Engrossing. . . . An elegantly structured long con. The pace is almost maddeningly deliberate, with details about the characters and their schemes doled out like a controlled substance, but patient readers will be rewarded with devastating third-act twists and a satisfying denouement.” (Publishers Weekly)

“[A] fantastically assured debut.... The Good Liar makes you want to experience Nicholas Searle’s next trick.” (The Guardian)

“I was engrossed.... As deceiver and deceived move towards each other with hypnotic predestination, the plot unfolds to a payoff as inevitable as it is shocking. A superb thriller and a truly engrossing read.” (Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author of In a Dark, Dark Wood)

“The Good Liar is a taut, compulsive thriller with a dark, intriguing heart. A Mr Ripley for our time.” (Jonathan Freedland, author of The 3rd Woman)

“What a clever and menacing novel The Good Liar is. I was gripped and horrified in equal measure and the ending knocked me sideways! I can’t wait for everyone to read the book so I can talk about it.” (Nina Stibbe, author of Love, Nina)

“As the tension mounts, the reader is kept guessing....The final denouement is a real cracker... Added to the fiendishly clever plot, Searle’s writing is both drily amusing and elegantly crafted.” (Daily Mail)

“One of 2016’s most intriguing debut novels.” (The Independent (London))

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Large Print
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0062442120
• ISBN 13: 9780062442123
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 464